Bobby pin opener



y 1950 P. J.\MAGG1O EIAL 2,

BOBBY PIN OPENER Filed March 2, 1948 9 INVENTORS 270/ d Magg/o :5 Leon f-T 6/77/27;

Patented May 9, 1950 NITED STATES PATENT oF FlcE BOBBY PIN OPENER Paul J. Maggio and Leon F. Smith, 7

Fort Dodge, Iowa Application March 2, 1948, Serial N o. 12,568v

(CL. BIZ- 1) 2 Claims. 1.-

This invention relates to an opener for hairpins of the type known as bobby pins.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple device to be gripped by the teeth and formed with a retaining groove or depression at the front within which the user inserts the end of one leg of a bobby pin while the other leg is drawn away for opening the pin.

Another object is to eliminate harm to teeth resulting from opening bobby pins, by providing a device of the kind described which obviates contact of bobby pins with the teeth.

Another object is to provide a unitary, easilymolded and manufactured opener of the nature outlined.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the device of our invention in operative position as gripped by upper and lower teeth, conventionally shown and disclosing the opening of a bobby pin by use of my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of our bobby pin opener.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the same, with parts broken away.

Figure 4 is a front view of a modified form of our invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further modification of the invention.

As is well known, the common way for users of bobby pins to open them is to grip one leg of the pin between the front teeth and separate or draw away the other leg of the pin from the first leg, so that the opened pin may be applied to the hair. It will be understood in this connection that only one hand of the user is normally available for this opening operation since the other hand is employed in holding in place the coiffure being arranged. Great harm and permanent injury have been done to teeth as a result of this common practice. The present invention eliminates such harm and injury by providing a gripping member to be held between the teeth and formed with a depressed or grooved portion into which an end of one of the legs of a bobby pin is pressed while the other leg is opened relative thereto.

With reference to the drawing, our device may conveniently and efficiently be formed of plastic or like material, molded to provide a body substantially V-shaped in cross-section and comprising a front member 4 and a rear or inner member 5. These, between them, form a trough 2 or recess for receiving the teeth, indicated at 6, preferably the upper front teeth of the user; members 4 and 5 may be tapered and rounded at their edges, as at l and 8 for assuring an efficient and comfortable fit.

Adjacent its lower part, the inner member 5 is formed with a step or ledge 9 to provide a bit ing surface for the opposite (here the lower) teeth, indicated at IU, whereby the device may be firmly gripped between the teeth.

The front member 4 projects forwardly in its lower portion and is there formed with a transverse groove or recess H, the edge portion of which may be further formed to provide a retaining lip I: to be later referred to. Groove II is here shown as straight.

The use Of our invention is clearly disclosed in Figure 1. After the device has been gripped by the teeth, the end of one of the legs l3 of a bobby pin l4, preferably the straight and longer leg, is pressed into the groove I l and so held while the other leg I5 is pried or drawn away relative thereto, for opening the pin. At this time the lip I2 is useful for serving as a wedge or cam engaging the usual flared end l6 of the pin, to facilitate the opening of the latter.

In Figures 4 and 5 the pin-receiving groove is indicated at H and the retaining lip at l8, both formed with an upward curvature for effectively receiving a bobby pin (indicated at It, Figure 4) from any angle.

It will be noted in Figures 1 and 5, that the front wall of the retaining grooves ll and I1 is tapered or slanted outwardly for increasing the \vedging function of this part upon insertion thereof between the legs of a bobby pin, to further facilitate opening of the latter (see Figure 1).

It will also be seen that the ends of the pinreceiving grooves l l and I! are closed to preclude slipping out of the ends of the pins introduced into the groove.

Figure 5 illustrates the provision of a pair of biting ledges 2i! and 2| to accommodate the device to the mouth sizes and bite characteristics of different persons.

Modifications will suggest themselves upon consideration of the means herein disclosed, but these are believed to be comprised within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A bobby pin opener comprising a grip mem-- ber generally V-shaped in transverse cross-section for engaging the upper front teeth of a user, a rearwardly-extending ledge on one side of said member constituting a biting surface for the lower front teeth of the user, and a forwardly-extending member on the other side of said grip member formed with a downwardly-opening groove within which the end of one leg of a bobby pin may be engaged while the other leg is opened relative thereto.

2. A bobby pin opener comprising a grip mem ber generally V-shaped in cross-section for receiving the upper front teeth of a user and formed with a rearwardly-extending transverse ledge on one side of said member defining a bite surface for the adjacent opposite teeth of the user, a forwardly-extending portion on the other side of said member formed with a downwardly-opening groove therein within which the end of one of the legs of the bobby pin may be engaged, and a lip forming one side of said groove to preclude displacement of said end of the bobby pin while the other leg thereof is being drawn away from the first leg to effect the opening of the pin.

PAUL J. MAGGIO. LEON F. SMITH.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,466,559 Purdy Aug. 28, 1923 2,172,998 Grant et a1 Sept. 12, 1939 2,192,558 Poindexter Mar. 5, 1940 2,441,947 Welch May 25, 1948 2,445,373 Turner July 20, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 345,006 Germany Oct. 12, 1920 OTHER REFERENCES 

